Phonograph and the like



PHONOGRAPH AND THE LIKE- Filed Oct. 1, 1930 I5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG-L INVENTOR:

I. v I *a A1111 QNES 5.11. 5mm: Know. I

A. D. JONES ET AL 1,809,901 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. D; JONES ET'AL PHONOGRAPH AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 1. 1930 June 16, 1931 i I I Illllll mvemons A- 111T CINE s 5 -1] SMITH AT TO'R NE-Y June 116, 1931. A. D. JONES ET AL ,9

PHONOGRAPH AND THE LIKE Filed oci. 1. 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS ADJ-JONES E 5.11. 5mm

ATTORNEY of the machine to a r and then lowered 7 illustrating the change arm Patented June 16, 1931 ALFRED DUKINFIELD JONES im STANLEY JAMES SMITH, F GLASGOW, SCOTLAND PHONOGRAPH AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 1, 1930. Serial No. 485,754, and in Great Britain September 20, 1929.

This invention has reference to improve ments in and relating to phonographs and the like of the type in which flat or disc records are used and has for an object the provision of improved means for automatically changing records which may be of different diameters.

Mechanism, in accordance with the invention, for automatically changing the records comprises a changealrm which'is moved from a position holding a record on the turn-table position engaging the top record of a pile of records in a record magazine and then is moved back again to the first position, thereby moving the first record from the turn-table into a record receptacle and the top record from the magazine onto the turntable. In order that this change of records may take place, the tone-arm, Which carries the sound box and needle or other pick-up, is raised from a position in which the needle engages the innermost portion ofthe sound groove of the first record on the turn-table and is swung outwards radially to the record to a position in which the needle engages the-outermost portion of the new record which has been transferred to the turn-table.

The turn-table of the machine is rotated continuously. It may be by means of a motor or the like and the needle or other pick-up travels'in the sound groove inwards radially to the record all in the usual manner.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine casing. Fig. 2 is an elevation illustrating the turntable, tone arm and associated parts. Fig. 3 isa plan view illustrating part of the mechanism illustrated by Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an elevation, looking from the bottom of Fig. 5,

pillar and associated cams. Fig. 4 is an elevation of part of the lifting cam for the change arm. Fig. 5 is a plan illustrating the change arm rocking lever and driving mechanism. F ig. 6 is a part sectional elevation illustrating the record magazine. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are plan views illustrating the upper, intermediate and lower cams. Fig. 7' is a plan illustrating the i a blade 7 the edge-of which is connection to the change arm pillar from the upper cam. Fig. is a plan illustrating the brake strap and shoe for the change arm.

Fig.11 is a plan illustrating the detent for i uously by any suitable means from the turn table driving means. Desirably and as illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3 the turn-table spindle 3 is driven from a motor spindle 4 by means of a belt drive 5 and drives the spindle 2 by means of worm and worm wheel gearing 6. A member 7 (Figs. 2=and 3) Whichiengages the screw of the spindle 2 is pivoted or suspended adjacent to the said spindle. The pitch of the screw and the speed of rotation of the spindle ares-uch that the member 7 which engages the screw and which is connect'ed to the tone-arm 8 move together at the same speed and in the same direction. Conveniently the member 7 is located directly under the tone-arm 8 and is constituted by spring pressed into the thread groove. The pivot or pillar member 9 of the tone-arm 8 which pene-.

trates the machine framework or casing 10 adjacent to the turn'table 1 is provided with an arm 11 which extends-towards t e spindle 2 under the turn-table 1. This arm '11 carries a contact or contacts, desirably a pair of contact pins 12 carried, it may be, by a fork portion 11' of the arm 11. Adjacent to the contact or between the pair of contact pins 12 the pivoted or suspended screw engaging member 7 is located. The pair of contacts are in the circuit of a relay operating the switch of a second motor which drives the record-changing mechanism. The position of the member 7 between the contacts 12 is maintained as thetone-arm 8 and therefore the arm 11 carrying the contacts 12 move at the same speed as the member 7. When the needle or stylus or other pick-up 13 reaches the inner end of the sound groove of the record 14 the tone-arm 8, and therefore the contacts 12, and the member 7 get out-of-step with the result that said member 7 contacts with one or other of the contact pins 12 and closes the circuit, thereby startin is below the level of the arm 56. I The record the record changing motor. The recor magazine is conveniently constituted by a changing motor drives a spindle 15 (Figs. 4v platform or table 21 (Figs. 1, 6 and 10) caand It may be by means of worm and pable of vertical moveme t. The platform 5 worm wheel gearing 16 and 17, the record- '21 may be provided with a central down- 70 changing motor spindle 18 driving the worm wardly projecting tubular stem 31 adapted to 16 by means of the belt or other drive 19. slide through an outer tube 32 carried by a The record chan e-arm 20 which moves or bracket 33 secured to the undersurface o 7 swings between t e turn-table 1 and the recthe top of the machine casing 10. A. rod 34 o ord magazine 21 is provided with a spindle the upper end of which passes through the I ,or pivot pillar 22' which penetrates the holes in the records is located within the stem frame-work of the machine between the 31 and may be carried by a bracket 35 located turn-table '1 and magazine 21. The lower under the outer tube 32, the end of said end of this pillar is fitted with a slotted arm bracket 35 passing through a slot in the stem 23 which is engaged by a pin 24 entering)the 31 thereby preventing rotation of the stem 90 slot of said arm. This pin is carried y a and platform but permitting vertical movemember mounted on the spindle 15, convenment of the stem and platfor A Spring 36 ientl the worm heel 17 through which the mounted on the stem 31 between the upper spin le 15 is dr ven. The rotation or cirend of the outer tube or as shown the upper cular movement of the pin 24 with the spinsurface of the bracket 33 and the under sur- 5.

dle 15 imparts a rocking movement to the face of the platform 21 maintains the platpillar 22, the in 24 sliding in the slot in form normally in the up position with said arm 23. he slotted member 23 is assothe top record positioned for transfer to the ciated with a cam mounted on the canr turn-table. An arm 37 pivotally mounted 25 disk 39 (Figs. 4" and7 rotated by the spindle at the side of the platform 21 extends over 15 so that aliftin an lowering movement 18 the records in the magazine. The free end.

imparted at the desired times to the arm 23 of this arm 37 may be provided with rollers and therefore to the change-arm pillar 22 38 which rest and press slightly upon the and change-arm 20.. Thelifting of the piltopv record. I

80 lar 22 is effected by the contact, attimes, of The mechanism for resetting or moving the 95 the cam 25 with an arm 23 fixed to said piltone-arm radially outwards v may comprise lar, and when said cam passes said arm the three cams 39, 40and 41 (Figs. 4, 7, 8 and 9) pillar is lowered by gravity. The free end mountedon the spindle 15. A lever constiof the change-arm may be provided with two tuting a follower cooperates with each cam.

85 arms 26 and 27 each of which may be pro- The e vided with a downwardly projecting pin 28 pivot pillar 9 of the tone-arm 8 by means and 29. The pin 28 is adapted to enter the including a'flexible connection 43 (Fig. 7) usual center hole in the record 14 on the such as a Bowden cable and aspring so that,

turn-table 1 to hold said record in position when the lever 42 is moved in the rotation ver 42 (Fig. 7) is connected to the' ioo' 40 during the rotation of the turn-table with of the cam 39, the pillar 9 is rocked against 1 5 the record-changing mechanism and therethe action of the spring. The pillar 9 1S,

fore the chan e-arm stationary. The moveattached to a sleeve44b a pin 44, said sleeve I ment i'mparte to the change--arm,20 is such 44 being mounted wit in a bearing sleeve that the said pin 28 is first lifted out of the 44 fixed to the framework 10, thus permit- 45 hole in .the record on the turn-table 1, the tin said pillar 9 to be rocked. When the 111 change-arm 20 is then swung over the magapillar 9 is rocked, the tone arm and needle zine 21 and the pin 28 engaged in the hole in or other pick-up 13 are lifted off the record the top record in the magazine. The change- 14 by the cam 25. The cam 25 co-operates arm 20 is then swung back and drags the with the arm 23 to lift the pillar 22, at

top record from the magazine over onto the times, as hereinbefore stated. The lever 45 11 turn-table 1. The pin 29 of the changeassociated with the second cam 40 (Fig. 8) arm 20 engages the edge of the first recor is connected by means including a flexible and pushes said first record off the turn-table connection 46 such as a Bowden cable to a 1 into a record receptacle or recess 30 suitbrake strap or shoe 47 (Fig. 10) which coop- 65 ably located at the side of the turn-table 1. crates with a brake b ock 48 carried by a 11 In order that the rotary movement of the lever 49 having a in 50 which projects change-arm pillar 22 may be limited the through an arcuate s ot 51 formed in the top pillar is provided with an arm 56 (Fig. 11) surface of the machine casing 10. Assoclwhich, when the pillar 22 is raised by the ated with the tone-arm is a pin or projec- 80 cam 25, rides over the detent pawl 57 and tion 52 which is carried by the brake block 1 moves into positionagainst a stop 58. Relever 49 and is adapted to engage an arm 55 turn rotary movement of the arm 56 moves secured on the tone-arm pillar 9. The lever the detent pawl 57 against the pressure of 53 associated with the third cam 41 (Fig. 9) the spring 59. The movement of the springis connected to the tone-arm pillar 9 by pressed pawl 57 is limited by a pin 58" which means including a flexiblegnnection such as a Bowden cable and a spring so that when the lever 53 is moved in t e rotation of the cam 41, the pillar 9 is partly rotated or turned'thereby swinging the tone-arm 8 from the innermost to the outermost position.

When the lever 45 associated with the second cam 40 is moved in the rotation of the cam, the brake shoe 47 is applied to the brake block 48 thereby locking the lever 49 which carries the pin 50 in the arcuate slot 51 so that the movement of the tone-arm 8 is limited by the tacting with the locked lever 49.

at we claim is 1. An automatic phonograph comprising a turn-table, a tone arm having a vertical pillar, a record support or magazine, a record change-arm secured to swing over said turntable and magazine, a pin carried by said arm and adapted to engage in the central hole of a record of said magazine, another pin carried by said arm and adapted to push a record off the turn-table, a motor driven spindle, two

cams secured on said spindle, followers 00- operative with said cams and yieldingly connected to the tone-arm pillar, whereby said pillar is raised to lift the needle or other partially rotated to swing from an inner to an outer said pick-up a third cam secured on said driven position, spindle,

follower is yieldingly connected and whereby the swinging movement of said tone-arm is limited.

2. An automatic phonograph as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for swinging the said record change-arm comprises a swinging arm, attached to the change arm and having a slot, and a wheel carrying a pin working in said slot.

3. An automatic phonograph as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for swinging the said record change-arm comprises a swinging arm attached to the change arm and having a slot, and a wheel carrying a pin working in said slot, and means for limitin the swinging movements of the said record change arm.

' 4. An automatic phonograph as claimed in claim 1 comprising rollers arranged to rest on the top record in the magazine, and spring means for pressing the record support upward against said rollers.

In testimony whereof names to this specification.

ALFRED DUKIN FIELD JONES. STANLEY JAMES SMITH.

pin 52 associated therewith cona follower co-operative with said, third cam and a brake device with which saidwe have signed our 

